Cities and towns in Namibia are distinguished by the status the Government of Namibia has vested in them: Places in Namibia that are governed by a municipality are cities, places with a town council are towns. [1]
Cities and towns in Namibia are distinguished by the status the Government of Namibia has vested in them: Places in Namibia that are governed by a municipality are cities, places with a town council are towns. [1]
As of 2015 [update] Namibia has thirteen cities, each of them governed by a municipality council that has between 7 and 15 seats. Compared to towns, cities have the authority to set up facilities like public transport, housing schemes, museums, and libraries without the approval of the Minister of Urban and Rural Development. They may also decide to privatise certain services and to enter into joint ventures with the private sector without asking for explicit approval. The thirteen cities are: [2]
| Cities in Namibia | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Region | Census 1991 | Census 2001 [3] | Census 2011 [3] | Census 2023 [4] |
| Windhoek | Khomas | 147,056 | 233,529 | 325,858 | 486,169 |
| Walvis Bay | Erongo | 22,999 | 43,611 | 62,096 | 118,625 |
| Swakopmund | Erongo | 17,681 | 23,808 | 44,725 | 75,921 |
| Henties Bay | Erongo | 3,285 | 4,720 | 7,569 | |
| Omaruru | Erongo | 4,761 | 6,300 | 10,670 | |
| Otjiwarongo | Otjozondjupa | 15,921 | 19,614 | 28,249 | 49,022 |
| Okahandja | Otjozondjupa | 11,040 | 14,039 | 22,639 | 45,159 |
| Grootfontein | Otjozondjupa | 14,249 | 16,632 | 26,839 | |
| Mariental | Hardap | 9,836 | 12,478 | 15,475 | |
| Outjo | Kunene | 6,013 | 8,445 | 15,063 | |
| Gobabis | Omaheke | 13,856 | 19,101 | 33,404 | |
| Tsumeb | Oshikoto | 14,929 | 19,275 | 34,960 | |
| Keetmanshoop | ǁKaras | 15,032 | 15,778 | 20,977 | 27,862 |
As of 2015 [update] Namibia has 26 towns, each of them governed by a town council that has between 7 and 12 seats. Compared to villages, towns have the authority to set up facilities like ambulance and fire fighting services and electricity supply without the approval of the Minister of Urban and Rural Development. They are also responsible for erecting and maintaining community buildings, and they may buy and sell movable property without asking for explicit approval. The 26 towns are: [2]
| Towns in Namibia | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town | Region | Census 1991 | Census 2001 [3] | Census 2011 [3] | 2023 Census [4] |
| Karasburg | ǁKaras | 4,075 | 4,401 | 6,621 | |
| Lüderitz | ǁKaras | 13,295 | 12,537 | 16,125 | |
| Oranjemund | ǁKaras | 4,451 | 3,908 | 7,441 | |
| Arandis | Erongo | 3,974 | 5,214 | 5,726 | |
| Karibib | Erongo | 3,726 | 5,132 | 6,938 | |
| Usakos | Erongo | 2,926 | 3,583 | 5,094 | |
| Aranos | Hardap | 3,683 | 5,493 | ||
| Rehoboth | Hardap | 21,439 | 21,308 | 28,843 | 40,788 |
| Rundu | Kavango East | 19,366 | 36,964 | 63,431 | 118,625 |
| Nkurenkuru | Kavango West | 618 | 10,261 | ||
| Khorixas | Kunene | 5,890 | 6,796 | 9,371 | |
| Opuwo | Kunene | 5,101 | 7,657 | 12,335 | |
| Eenhana | Ohangwena | 2,814 | 5,528 | 16,588 | |
| Helao Nafidi | Ohangwena | --- | --- (established 2004) | 19,375 | 28,508 |
| Okahao | Omusati | 1,665 | 4,519 | ||
| Oshikuku | Omusati | 2,761 | 5,499 | ||
| Outapi | Omusati | 2,640 | 6,437 | 13,671 | |
| Ruacana | Omusati | 2,985 | 5,939 | ||
| Oshakati | Oshana | 21,603 | 28,255 | 36,541 | 58,696 |
| Ondangwa | Oshana | 7,926 | 10,900 | 22,822 | 30,679 |
| Ongwediva | Oshana | 6,197 | 10,742 | 20,260 | 27,784 |
| Omuthiya | Oshikoto | 3,794 | 7,560 | ||
| Oniipa | Oshikoto | --- | 4,740 | ||
| Okakarara | Otjozondjupa | 3,296 | 4,709 | 7,123 | |
| Otavi | Otjozondjupa | 3,813 | 5,242 | 10,756 | |
| Katima Mulilo | Zambezi | 13,377 | 22,134 | 28,362 | 46,401 |
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around 1,700 m (5,600 ft) above sea level, almost exactly at the country's geographical centre. The population of Windhoek, which was 486,169 in 2023, is constantly growing due to a continued migration from other regions in Namibia.
Oranjemund is a diamond mining town of 4,000 inhabitants situated in the ǁKaras Region of the extreme southwest of Namibia, on the northern bank of the Orange River mouth at the border to South Africa.
Gobabis is a town in eastern Namibia. It is the regional capital of the Omaheke Region, and the district capital of the Gobabis electoral constituency. Gobabis is situated 200 km (120 mi) down the B6 motorway from Windhoek to Botswana. The town is 113 km (70 mi) from the Buitepos border post with Botswana, and serves as an important link to South Africa on the tarred Trans-Kalahari Highway. Gobabis is in the heart of the cattle farming area. In fact Gobabis is so proud of its cattle farming that a statue of a large Brahman bull with the inscription "Cattle Country" greets visitors to the town. Gobabis also has its own local airport.
Grootfontein is a town with 26,839 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is one of the three towns in the Otavi Triangle, situated on the B8 national road that leads from Otavi to the Caprivi Strip.
Keetmanshoop is a town in the ǁKaras Region of southern Namibia, lying on the Trans-Namib Railway from Windhoek to Upington in South Africa. It is named after Johann Keetman, a German industrialist and benefactor of the city.
Karibib is a town in the Erongo Region of western Namibia. It has 3,800 inhabitants and owns 97 square kilometres (37 sq mi) of town land. Karibib is the district capital of the Karibib electoral constituency. It is situated on the Khan River, halfway between Windhoek and Swakopmund on the B2, the main road between Walvis Bay and Johannesburg. The town is known for its aragonite marble quarries and the Navachab Gold Mine.
Katima Mulilo or simply Katima is the capital of the Zambezi Region in Namibia. It had 46,401 inhabitants in 2023, and comprises two electoral constituencies, Katima Mulilo Rural and Katima Mulilo Urban. It is located on the B8 national road on the banks of the Zambezi River in the Caprivi Strip in lush riverine vegetation with tropical birds and monkeys. The town receives annual average rainfall of 654 millimetres (25.7 in).
Okahandja is a city of 45,159 inhabitants in Otjozondjupa Region, central Namibia, and the district capital of the Okahandja electoral constituency. It is known as the Garden Town of Namibia. It is located 70 km north of Windhoek on the B1 road. It was founded around 1800, by two local groups, the Herero and the Nama.
Mariental is a town of 10,000 inhabitants in south-central Namibia, lying on the B1 national road 232 kilometres (144 mi) north of Keetmanshoop and 274 kilometres (170 mi) southeast of Windhoek. It lies at an elevation of 1,090 metres (3,580 ft). Mariental is connected to the TransNamib railway line from Windhoek to Keetmanshoop. The town and the surrounding area are situated in a hot, arid region.
Rundu is the capital and largest city of the Kavango-East Region in northern Namibia. It lies on the border with Angola on the banks of the Kavango River about 1,000 metres above sea level. Rundu's population is growing rapidly. The 2001 census counted 36,964 inhabitants; and for the 2011 census it has climbed to 63,430.
Oshakati is a town in northern Namibia. It is the regional capital of the Oshana Region and one of Namibia's largest cities both by population and as an economic center.
Karasburg is a town with 4,000 inhabitants in the ǁKaras Region of southern Namibia and the district capital of the Karasburg electoral constituency. It lies at the heart of the southern Namibian sheep farming industry.
Outjo is a town of 15,000 inhabitants in the Kunene Region of Namibia. It is the district capital of Outjo Constituency. It is best known as the main gateway to Etosha National Park.
Opuwo is the capital of the Kunene Region in north-western Namibia. The town is situated about 720 km north-northwest of the capital Windhoek, and has a population of around 12,300 (2023). It is the commercial hub of the Kunene Region.
Outapi wa Nakafingo na Temba, also Outapi or Uutapi and Ombalantu, is a town in northern Namibia near the border with Angola, situated 90 km (56 mi) northwest of Oshakati. It is the capital of the Omusati region and the district capital of the Outapi electoral constituency. The language spoken there is Oshiwambo.
Otavi is a town with 10,000 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. Situated 360 km north of Windhoek, it is the district capital of the Otavi electoral constituency.
Arandis is a mining town in the Erongo Region of western central Namibia. Originally a camp for workers of the nearby Rössing uranium mine, Arandis was declared a town in 1994.
Ongwediva is a town in the Oshana Region in the north of Namibia. It is the district capital of the Ongwediva electoral constituency. As of 2023 it had 28,000 inhabitants and covered 4,102 hectares of land. Ongwediva has seven churches, two private schools and 13 government-run schools. Most of the inhabitants speak Oshiwambo.
Okakarara is a town in Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia, located 50 kilometres (31 mi) southeast of Waterberg National Park. It has an estimated population of 7,000 and is currently growing by 1,500 inhabitants annually.